The system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a non-contact detection and location of acoustic sources, which will be useful for locating signaling humans and will assist in the structural analysis of damaged building based upon structural movement. In accordance an embodiment of the present invention is provided a multi-beam, non-contact, laser vibrometer adapted to locate, via triangulation, an acoustic source buried underground.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for determining the location of a vibrating target, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting at least three optical signals substantially simultaneously to contact a surface of interest that is receiving a vibration from a vibrating target, wherein each of the three optical signals contacts the surface at each of three contact locations, each of the three contact locations separated from each of the other contact locations by a known distance and direction; receiving at least three backreflected optical signals from the surface of interest, each backreflected optical signal corresponding to each of the at least three transmitted optical signals; sensing the acoustic vibration signal in each of the at least three backreflected optical signals; measuring a plurality of delay intervals for a common acoustic signature received from the acoustic vibration signal sensed at each of the plurality of locations on the surface of interest; and determining the location of a vibrating target through cross-correlation of the acoustic vibration signal sensed at each of the plurality of locations and triangulation of the plurality of measured delay intervals.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing an acoustic vibration signal in each of the at least three backreflected optical signals further comprises, identifying a differential amplitude between the transmitted optical signal and the backreflected optical signal.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of sensing an acoustic vibration signal in each of the at least three backreflected optical signals further comprises, identifying a Doppler shifted wavelength between the transmitted optical signal and the backreflected optical signal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating target is located below the surface of interest.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating target is located above the surface of interest.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibrating target is located adjacent to the surface of interest.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the contact locations is between 5 ft and 20 ft.
8. A system for determining the location of a vibrating target, the system comprising: an optical signal transmitter positioned to transmit three optical signals substantially simultaneously to contact a surface that is receiving a vibration from a vibrating target, wherein each of the three optical signals contacts the surface at each of three contact locations on the surface of interest, each of the three contact locations separated from the other contact locations by a known distance and direction; an optical signal receiver positioned to receive three backreflected optical signals from the surface of interest, each backreflected optical signal corresponding to each of the three transmitted optical signals; a sensor for sensing an acoustic vibration signal in each of the three backreflected optical signals; a processor for measuring a delay interval for each of the three transmitted optical signals; and a signal processor for determining the three-dimensional location of the vibrating target through cross-correlation of the acoustic vibration signal in each of the three backreflected optical signals and triangulation of the delay intervals.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vibrating target is below the surface of interest.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vibrating target is above the surface of interest.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vibrating target is adjacent to the surface of interest.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal transmitter, the optical signal receiver and the sensor are components of a lidar system.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal transmitter, the optical signal receiver and the sensor are components of a laser Doppler vibrometer system.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal transmitter comprises a plurality of optical signal transmitters, each of the transmitters to transmit an optical signal.
15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal receiver comprises a plurality of optical signal receivers, each of the receivers to receive an optical signal.
16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal transmitter further comprises at least one beam splitter, the at least one beam splitter to transmit at least one of the three optical signals.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the optical signal receiver further comprises at least one receiving elements positioned on a back side of the at least one beam splitter, each receiving elements to receive one of the three optical signals.
18. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal transmitter, the optical signal receiver and the sensor are positioned on a robot carrier.
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March 27, 2006
March 13, 2007
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